fit for the job). But the people would know him, for they grew up with him. Rav Hisda taught that at first, officers were appointed only from the Levites, for says, "And the officers of the Levites before you," but in Rav Hisda's time, officers were appointed only from the Israelites, for it was said (paraphrasing ), "And officers over you shall come from the majority" (that is, the Israelites). Interpreting , the Rabbis taught in a Baraita that since the nation numbered about 600,000 men, the chiefs of thousands amounted to 600; those of hundreds, 6,000; those of fifties, 12,000; and those of tens, 60,000. Hence they taught that the number of officers in Israel totaled 78,600. Rabbi Johanan interpreted the words "And I charged your judges at that time" in to teach that judges were to resort to the rod and the lash with caution. Rabbi Haninah interpreted the words "hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously" in to warn judges not to listen to the claims of litigants in the absence of their opponents, and to warn litigants not to argue their cases to the judge before their opponents have appeared. Resh Lakish interpreted the words "judge righteously" in to teach judges to consider all the aspects of the case before deciding. Rabbi Judah interpreted the words "between your brethren" in to teach judges to make a scrupulous division of liability between the lower and the upper parts of a house, and Rabbi Judah interpreted the words "and the stranger that is with him" in to teach judges to make a scrupulous division of liability even between a stove and an oven. Rabbi Eliezer the Great taught that the Torah warns against wronging a stranger in 36, or others say 46, places (including ). The Gemara went on to cite Rabbi Nathan's interpretation of , "You shall neither wrong a stranger, nor oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt," to teach that one must not taunt one's neighbor about a flaw that one has oneself. The Gemara taught that thus a proverb says: If there is a case of hanging in a person's family history, do not say to the person, "Hang up this fish for me." Rabbi Judah interpreted the words "you shall not respect persons in judgment" in to teach judges not to favor their friends, and Rabbi Eleazar